Door latch mechanism



1966 M. M. WESTERDALE 3,231,302

DOOR LATCH MECHANISM Filed Feb. 19, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 1966 M. M.WESTERDALE 3,231,302

DOOR LATCH MECHANISM Filed Feb. 19, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A T rok/vsrsJan. 25, 1966 Filed Feb. 19, 1963 M. M. WESTERDALE DOOR LATCH MECHANISM'5 Sheets-Sheet 5 MflUR/CE M. IVA-6751901415 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,231,302 DOOR LATCH MECHANISM Maurice M.Westerdale, Inkster, Mich., assignor to Ford Motor Company, Dearborn,Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 259,548 6Claims. (Cl. 29252) This invention relates to latch mechanisms forswinging doors, especially the doors of automobile or other vehiclebodies.

The latch mechanism embodying the present invention comprises certaincomponents found in most conventional vehicle door latch mechanisms.That is, it has a support or plate on which are mounted the operativeparts such as a pivotal latch device means adapted to engage a strikeror keeper device mounted on a door framing structure, a detent meansreleasably engaged with the latch device means to hold the latter indoor latched position, a system of operating members actuatable from theoutside and the inside of the vehicle door by outside and insideoperators, such as push buttons, handles or the like, for releasing thedetent means from the latch device means, and a means for disabling thesystem of operating members so that the door cannot be unlatched by theoperation of the outside and inside operators. It is in the constructionand arrangement of this disabling means that the latch mechanismembodying the present invention represents an improvement over prior artlatch mechanisms.

Latch mechanisms may be categorized by the manner in which the system ofoperating members is disabled or rendered inoperative to disengage thedetent means from the latch device means to place the latch mechanism inlocked condition. This may be done by the use of a blocking meansselectively positionable to block movement of one of the key operatingmembers. This may also be done by use of a disconnection meansinterposed in the train or system of members extending from the pushbutton, handle or the like mounted on the outside and on the inside ofthe vehicle door.

Reference may be made to C. F. Kramer US. Patent No. 2,987,336, issuedJune 6, 1961, for a latch mechanism exemplifying the type in which ablock'mg means is used to render a key member of the system of operatingmembers inoperative to cause disengagement of the detent means from thelatch device means.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a latch mechanismcharacterized by many of the features of the latch mechanism disclosedin the Kramer patent and which is further characterized by the inclusionof features of construction by which the means manually operable fromthe outside or from the inside of the door, such as a handle, pushbutton or the like operated means, may be operatively disconnected sothat the detent cannot be moved to a detent disengaged position relativeto the latch device means. More specifically, the system of members ortrain of parts operatively associating the outer and inner manuallyoperable operators with the detent means includes atransmitting membermounted for swinging and shifting movements on the latch mechanusmsupport or plate. -The mounting means for this transmitting memberincludes a biasing means forming a displaceable pivot means about whichthe transmitting member is swingable from a detent means abuttingposition to a detent means nonabutting position. When the transmittingmember is in a detent means abutting position, it may be shifted againstthe resistance of the biasing means to engage the detent means anddisengage the latter from the latch device. When the transmitting memberis in a detent means nonabutting position and 'ice is shifted againstthe resistance of the biasing means, it will merely bypass the detentmeans.

The latch mechanism embodying the present invention is particularlyadapted for use on the rear doors of vehicles. When the transmittingmember is placed in a nonabutting relationship to the detent means, andthe door is in the latched condition, the door cannot be opened from theoutside nor can it be opened from the inside. This latter feature isparticularly desirable when young children are carried as passengers inthe rear compartment of the vehicle. When the vehicle door is in anunlatched and opened condition, the transmitting member may be shiftedfrom a detent engaging to a detent nonengaging position. The vehicledoor may be then slammed shut and the parts of the latch mechanism willremain in the disconnected or locked relationship.

Other objects and advantages and the features of construction of thepresent invent-ion will be made more apparent as this descriptionproceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective viewof a latch mechanism embodying the presentinvention as it appears when mounted on a vehicle door, a fragmentaryportion of the door being shown in dot and dash outline;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the latch mechanism as it appears {fromthe inside of the vehicle door or when viewed from the face of the latchmechanism opposite to that shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view taken from the right side of FIG. 2 asviewed in the drawing; and

FIG. 4 is an elevational view taken from the left side of FIG. 2 asviewed in the drawing.

In the drawing there is illustrated, by way of example, a preferredembodiment of the present latch mechanism, generally designated 10, asapplied to the door of an auto mobile body. Adapted to be secured as bymeans of screws (not shown) to the inner side of the free edge or jambopposing wall 11 of a vehicle door 12 is a latch mechanism supporthaving a main plate 13 and a flange or second plate 14 which isadapted'to be positioned along the inner panel of the door. The presentlatch mechanism has a pair of pivoted latch devices comprising jawelements 15 (see 'FIG. 1) positioned at the outer face of the main plate13. Each jaw element 15 is provided with a shaft or pivot portion 16having a reduced bearing portion 17 extending through a suitable flangedaperture in the main plate 13. The inner reduced end or hearing portion17 of each shaft 16 is provided with diametrically opposed flats 18thereon. Fitted over the bearing portion 17 and keyed thereto by theflats 18 are a pair of control plates 19 and 21. Each jaw element 15 isthus rigidly coupled to acontrol plate 19 or 21, beingconcentrictherewith on a shaft 16. As defined herein, each latch device meanscomprises a jaw element 15, a shaft 16 and a control plate 19 or 21.

Each jaw element 15 is a substantially triangular plate member havingits pivot axis located near its apex end. The side opposite the apex endis outwardly rounded and is provided in the center thereof with asemicircular recess or enlarged notch 22.

Each control plate is a gear sector having teeth 23, the teeth beingintermeshed to thereby couple the control plates 9 and 21 together forcorrelated movements. Both jaw elements 15 are thus controlled forcounterdirectional swhiging movement in unison toward and from eachother into and out of door latched condition.

A spiral spring 24 is disposed concentrically with and adjacent theinner face of the control plate 19. The spring 24 is coupled at itsinner end 25 to the shaft 16 carrying the control plate 19, the shafthaving a slot or kerf 26 receiving the spring end. The outer or free end27 of the spring 24 is looped over the edge of a slot 28 in an offset 29at the upper edge of the main plate 13. The spring 24 is installed in apreloaded condition so that it at all times tends to rotate or urge thecontrol plate 19, the shaft 16 and associated jaw element in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2. Since the control plate19 is coupled to the control plate 21 through the gear teeth 23,rotative force exerted by the spring 24 on the plate 19 is transmittedto the plate 21 so that it is also at all times under a rotative forceurging it, the shaft 16 and associated jaw element 15 in a clockwisedirection is viewed in FIG. 2.

The control plate 21 is provided with two peripherally spaced abutmentsor ratchet teeth and 31. Cooperable with the abutment or ratched toothededge of the control plate 21 is a detent 32 pivotally mounted on ashoulder rivet 33 secured to the main plate 13. It will be noted thatthe detent 32 extends in a substantially horizontal direction across themain plate 13 from it pivot, the shoulder rivet 33, toward the flange14. The flange 14 is provided with an elongated vertically extendingslot 34 (see FIG. 4) through which an extension or arm 35 of the detent32 projects.

Above the arm 35 the detent has an abutment portion 36 cooperable withthe teeth or abutments 30 and 31 on the control plate 21. When thedetent abutment 36 is in engagement with the control plate abutment 30,the jaw elements 13 will be held in what is known as a secondary latchedposition. In other words, although the jaw elements 15 are not in afully latched position, they are closed sufficiently to engage a strikeror keeper pin therebetween to prevent opening movement of a vehicledoor. When the abutment 36 is in engagement with the control plateabutment or tooth 31, as shown in FIG. 2, the jaw elements 15 will be infinal latched position or fully gripping the striker or keeper pin (notshown).

The detent 32 is urged in a counterclockwise direction or toward thecontrol plate 21 by a spiral spring 37 This spring is anchored at itsinner end 38 to the shoulder rivet 33 and at its free or outer end 39 toa short upwardly extending extension 41 of the detent 32.

It will be apparent from FIG. 2 that the detent 32 must be swung in aclockwise direction about is pivot 33 to permit movement of the controlplates 21 and 19 and thereby the jaw elements 15 in unlatchingdirection.

That is, the abutment 36 on the detent 32 must be moved out of the pathof the abutments 31 and 30 on the control plate 21.

Disengaging movement of the detent 32 is accomplished in the latchmechanism embodying the present invention through a system of levers andlinks adapted to be operated from the outside or the inside of thevehicle door. For operation from the outside of the door, the latchmechanism 10 is provided with a substantially vertically extending lever42 pivoted intermediate its ends on a pivot stu'd 43 secured to thepreviously mentioned olfset 29 on the upper edge of the main plate 13.The lower end 44 of the lever 42 has a flange 45 adapted to be engagedby a plunger or stem (not shown) projecting inwardly from a push buttonmounted on the outer panel of the vehicle door in a conventional manner.

The upper arm 46 of the lever 42 is pivotally coupled at 47 to asubstantially horizontally extending link 48. The link 48 in turn ispivotally coupled at 49 to an upwardly extending arm 51 of a multiarmlever 52. The multiarm lever 52 is pivotally mounted on a pivot stud 53secured to a sub-flange 54 which is angularly related to the main plateflange '14. It will be noted that the sub-flange 54 extends only a shortdistance down from the upper edge of the main plate flange 14 and thatit lies in substantially parallel relationship to the main plate 13. Thesub-flange 54 terminates in an appendage or subflange 55 which issubstantially parallel to the main plate flange 14. A bell crank lever'56 is pivotally mounted on the sub-flange 55 for a purpose to behereinafter explained.

The multiarm lever 52 has an arm 57 which extends towards the main plateflange 14 and projects through a slot 58 therein. The slot 58 receivesthe upper end of a vertically extending link or transmitting member 59.The upper end of the link 59 has a reduced neck portion 61 which iscoiled over so as to project through the slot 58. The terminal end 62 ofthe coiled over neck portion 61 flares out to the original width of thelink and is provided with a centrally located upwardly extending notchor slot 63. The notch or slot 63 has an important function in that itreceives the free end 64 of a coiled spring 65 which is carried on ashank extension 66 of the pivot stud '53 mounting the multiarrn lever 52on the sub-flange 54. The other end or leg 67 of the coiled spring 65 isslipped over a lug 68 extending laterally of the sub-flange 54 at thebottom edge thereof.

The relationship of the neck portion 61 of the link 59 with the walls ofthe slot 58 in the flange 14 is such that the upper end of the link 59cannot be pulled out of the slot. The relationship of the free end 64 ofthe spring 65 and the notch or slot 63 in the link 59 is of vitalimportance in that the spring end 64 becomes the actual pivot aboutwhich the link or transmitting member 59 is swingable, for a purpose tobe hereinafter described. The spring 65 further functions as the biasingmeans which urges the link of transmitting member 59 upwardly so that italways underlies the arm 57 of the multiarm lever 52.

The lower end of the transmitting member or link 59 is provided with avertically extending slot 69 which traverses a slightly curvedsubstantially horizontally extending slot 71 in the flange 14.Projecting through both these slots is a headed stud or rivet 72 whichis carried on the lower end of a bell crank lever 73 pivotally mountedintermediate its ends on a pivot stud 74 secured to the flange 14. Thebell crank lever 73 is mounted on the side of the flange 14 opposite theside against which the link or transmitting member 59 slides. The bellcrank lever 73 has an upstanding arm portion 75 provided with anaperture 76 adapted to receive a link (not shown) which terminates in aknob or other control element mounted in a convenient place on the innerpanel of the door or at the garnish molding. As best seen with referenceto FIG. 4, when the bell crank lever 73 is swung from the solid outlineposition in a counterclockwise direction to the dot and dash outlineposition, the link or transmitting member 59 is pivoted about the pivotaxis defined by the free end 64 of the spring 65 from the solid outlineposition to the dot-dash outline position. When the link or transmittingmember 59 is in the vertical position, the solid outline position ofFIG. 4, its lower end overlies the end 35 of the detent 32. Therefore,any downward movement of the link or transmitting member 59 will causethe lower end of the link to abut the detent 32 and to swing the latterin a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2. When swung in thisdirection, the abutment 36 is moved out of the path of the projections31-30 and the latch mechanism control plates and jaw elements arepermitted to rotate in unlatching direction. When the transmitting linkis in the dot and dash outline position shown in FIG. 4, any downwardmovement of the transmitting member or link 59 is ineffective to causeactuation of the detent means 32 because the transmitting member or link59 will merely bypass the end 35 of this member without abutting it.

Referring now to the bell crank lever 56 which is mounted on theappendage or sub-flange 55 by means of a pivot stud 77, the arm 78 ofbell crank lever 56 underlies the arm 79 of the multiarm lever 52. Thebell crank lever 56 has an upwardly extending arm 81 provided with anaperture 82 adapted to receive a draft link (not shown) adapted to becoupled to a conventional remote control device operated by a doorhandle mounted on the inner door panel of the vehicle door (not shown).If, as viewed in FIG. 4, the bell crank lever 56 is rotated in aclockwise direction, the arm 78 will lift the arm 79 of the multiarmlever 52 causing the arm 57 of the multiarm lever 52 to drive thetransmitting member or link 59 in a downward direction. This actuationis the same as occurs when the multiarm lever 52 is driven from theoutside of the vehicle door through the lever 42 and the link 48.

Thus, in the present latch mechanism, when the transmitting member orlink 59 is in the inoperative position relative to the end of the detentmeans 32, both the outer operator and the inner operator for unlatchingthe door are rendered inoperative to unlatch the door.

It may be noted that the upper end of the arm 81 of the bell crank lever56 is provided with an inwardly turned portion 83 which abuts the upperedge of the appendage or sub-flange 55 thus providing a limiting stopwhich prevents the bell crank lever 56 from being actuated in acounterclockwise direction.

The stepped arrangement provided by the flange 14 and the sub-flanges 54and 55 is particularly necessary with respect to the latch mechanismembodying the present invention because this latch mechanism is designedto fit within a certain style vehicle door and, as is indicated in FIG.1, the frame of the glass or window of the door comes fairly close tothe free edge wall 11 of the door. In order to operate the latchmechanism from the inside of the door, it is necessary to get around theglass guide channel (not shown). This is accomplished by the steppedarrangement of the sub-flanges 54 and 55. The construction andarrangement as embodied in the present invention results in a relativelythin latch mechanism yet one which is capable of performing all of thefunctions desired for a rear door latch mechanism.

The latch mechanism may be placed in locked condition by manipulation ofthe lever 73 to throw the transmitting member 59 from the position inwhich it overlies the detent arm 35 to an angularly inclined position inwhich it bypasses the detent arm 35. This may be done whether the dooris in an opened or a closed condition. When this is done with the doorin an opened position and the door is then slammed shut, the latchdevices will engage the striker or keeper device, the detent meansabutment 36 will drop into holding position relative to the abutment 31on the control plate 21, and the detent arm 35 will correspondingly moveupward but it will not interfere or abut any part of the transmittingmember or link 59. The latter will remain in its angularly inclinedposition so that if the outside or inside operators are manipulated thedetent will not be disengaged from the control plate 21. If it isdesired to unlock the door, it is only necessary to manipulate the lever73 to return the transmitting member 59 to its position overlying thedetent and then the door may be opened from either the inside or theoutside.

It may be noted that a toggle or overcenter spring 84 is interposedbetween the bell crank lever 73 and the flange 14 to ensure that thetransmitting member is held in either full detent abutting or fulldetent non-abutting positions.

The manner in which the jaw elements 15 coact with a striker or keeperdevice to hold the door in latched condition is fully described in theaforementioned United States Patent No. 2,987,336 issued to C. F.Kramer.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to theexact construction shown and described, but that various changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A latch mechanism for a swinging door, comprising:

a support,

latch device means pivotally mounted on said support for movementbetween door latched and door unlatched positions,

biasing means urging said latch device means toward door unlatchedposition,

detent means pivotally mounted on said support and engageable with saidlatch device means for holding the same in door latched position,

manually operable means movable in detent means actuating direction,

a transmitting member interposed between said manually operable meansand said detent means,

and spring means having a free end portion thereof in engagement withand biasing said transmitting member toward said manually operablemeans,

said free end portion also pivotally supporting said transmitting memberfor swingable movement from a detent means actuating position to adetent means bypassing position,

said transmitting member when in detent means actuating position beingeffective to transmit movement of said manually operable means to saiddetent means to cause disengagement of the latter from said latch devicemeans,

said transmitting member when in detent means bypassing position beingineffective to transmit movement of said manually operable means to saiddetent means,

and control means for swinging said transmitting member about the freeend portion of said spring means between said detent means actuating andbypassing positions.

2. A latch mechanism according to claim 1 in which the manually operablemeans comprises a bell crank member having a driving arm abutting saidtransmitting member and driven arms operatively coupled to actuatingmembers actuatable from the outside and the inside of said swingingdoor, respectively.

3. A latch mechanism according to claim 2 in which said spring meansthrough said free end portion restores said transmitting member and saidbell crank member to inoperative position after operation thereof.

4. A latch mechanism for a swinging door, comprismg:

a support having a main plate portion and a flange at one side thereof,

latch device means pivotally mounted on said main plate portion formovement between door latched and door unlatched positions,

detent means pivotally mounted on one end of said main plate portion atone side of and engageable with said latch device means for holding thesame in door latched position,

manually operable means comprising a bell crank lever mounted on anextension of said flange paralleling said main plate portion,

said bell crank lever having an arm movable in detent means actuatingdirection,

a transmitting member mounted on said flange interposed between saidbell crank lever arm and said detent means,

and spring means mounted on said flange extension having a free endportion thereof in engagement with and biasing said transmitting membertoward said bell crank lever arm,

said free end portion also pivotally supporting said transmitting memberfor swingable movement from a detent means actuating position to adetent means bypassing position,

said transmitting member when in detent means actuating position beingeffective to transmit movement of said manually operable means to saiddetent means to cause disengagement of the latter from said latch devicemeans,

said transmitting member when in detent means bypassing position beingineffective to transmit move- 7 ment of said manually operable means tosaid detent means,

and control means pivotally mounted on said flange for swinging saiddetent means about the free end portion of said spring means betweensaid detent means actuating and bypassing positions.

5. A latch mechanism according to claim 4 in which the latch devicemeans comprises:

a pair of jaw elements pivotally mounted on one side of said main plateportion for swinging movement about spaced axes perpendicular to theplane of said main plate portion,

a pair of control members mounted on the opposite side of the said mainplate portion,

each control member being fixedly coupled to one of said jaw elementsfor pivotal movement therewith,

said control members having intermeshed portions whereby said jawelements are controlled for movement in unison toward and from eachother to door latched and door unlatched position, respectively,

and at least one of said control members being provided with a detentmeans engageable portion,

the detent means when in engagement with said detent means engageableportion holding said jaw elements in door latched position.

6. A latch mechanism according to claim 4 in which said spring meansacting through its free end portion in abutting relation to saidtransmitting member is efiFective to restore said transmitting memberand bell crank lever to an inoperative position after operation thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,625,420 1/1953Endter 292-198 2,649,321 8/1953 Smith 2925 2,877,043 3/1959 Leslie292280 2,987,336 6/1961 Kramer 292-52 JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner.

M. HENSON WOOD, 111., Examiner.

